Chelsea’s injury-hit Emi Martinez will return to action ‘in a few weeks’

What the report says

Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is expected to be sidelined for only a few weeks after surgery following a head collision in the Premier League match at Everton, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on Reuters and AP. The 34-year-old was stretchered off, taken to hospital and described as having suffered a concussion; Argentine media also reported a jaw injury, though that was not independently confirmed in the article.

The incident occurred during Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Everton, when Martinez and defender Jarrad Branthwaite collided while contesting a set piece. Martinez later posted from hospital that the operation went well and said the team’s victory and clean sheet mattered most. His message suggested a recovery timeline of “a few weeks,” but no exact return date was given.

The injury forced Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso to turn to 21-year-old Mike Penders, who made his Premier League debut and helped secure Chelsea’s first league clean sheet since January, the report said. Penders is likely to remain in goal until Martinez is cleared to resume training.

Chelsea now face a busy stretch of fixtures, including Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool in the League Cup and Manchester United in the league. The situation matters because Martinez is a first-choice goalkeeper, and his absence could affect Chelsea’s results during a demanding run of matches.